Per Mertesacker is entrusted with the job of collecting fines from Arsenal players in breach of club discipline but the German may find himself going cap in hand to manager Arsene Wenger for his place in the team.

Andy Carroll is set to play at Stevenage tonight in a special benefit match for the late Mitchell Cole who died last December, aged 27, of a heart condition.

Carroll and other West Ham stars including captain Kevin Nolan, Mark Noble, Matt Jarvis and Mitchell’s brother-in-law Joe Cole, have also been given permission by manager Sam Allardyce to play in the match, between a Mitchell Cole XI and a Stevenage XI, which kicks off at 7pm at the Lamex Stadium.

Tickets, price £10 for adults, are available from www.borotickets.co.uk with the proceeds being split between the family of Mitchell Cole and the Cardiomyopathy Association.